Above: Trumpf’s TruBend Cell 7000 with its dual robot BendMaster gives Dakotaland a fully automated bending system.
October, 2025- In 2015, Westland Manufacturing, a fabricator, and metal machining specialist JMS Precision merged to form Dakotaland Manufacturing. With 130,000 sq. ft. and locations in Sioux Falls and Watertown, South Dakota, the company provides machining, fabrication and finishing services to customers in industries ranging from power generation for data centers to utility trucks and aftermarket motorcycle components.
“It was a fresh beginning for two companies committed to craftsmanship, to our personnel and to building better parts,” says Tyler Krejchi, engineering manager for Dakotaland. “We were able to figure out what we did best at both sites, how we could collaborate and what adjustments we needed to make to shape our trajectory as a leader in metal fabrication and machining.”
The contract manufacturer’s capabilities include cutting, bending, hardware insertion, machining, welding, assembly and finishing of carbon and stainless steels, aluminum and copper. Dakotaland’s growth has been fed by an ongoing investment in equipment upgrades and new technology—in particular, its bending processes.
“Our bending operation sits right in the middle of our work flow between our cutting and finishing processes,” says Krejchi. “In the past, parts forming was manual. It was also a production bottleneck for us and one we knew we needed to consider automating.”
The need for additional capacity put the manufacturer in the market for new bending equipment. “We looked at different options but Trumpf offered an all-in-one solution for bending that other companies didn’t have,” Krejchi says.
The TruBend cells are designed for smaller batches and can handle a variety of different part sizes during a single work shift.
GROWTH
In 2011, Dakotaland installed a Trumpf TruBend 7036. The ergonomic high-speed machine bends small to medium-sized parts. Accurate positional accuracy for the ram, direct drive and an automatic angle measuring system support high output. The compact machine is suited to bending complex components with flanges. The purchase was followed by that of three TruBend 5170 CNC press brakes installed in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
“The decision to purchase the first four Trumpf bending machines was capacity- driven,” says Krejchi. “We wanted to set ourselves up for growth. What we do well is partner with our customers, and we’re willing to invest in the equipment that will support their needs. With Trumpf, we’re able to make one phone call if we have questions and they service the whole system.”
In 2022, Dakotaland purchased a TruBend Cell 7000. The high-speed, automatic press brake was engineered to precisely bend small to medium-sized metal parts. Automated tool changes and a dual robot design combine high output with premium part quality.
“We decided to start with the smaller bending cell first,” says Krejchi. “We had such success with it [that] we decided to go bigger. In 2023, we installed a TruBend Cell 5000 with Trumpf’s BendMaster 150 for a fully automated bending system. The industrial robot transfers metal sheets to the press brake to give us high-speed production of bent parts.”
Easy to program, the two bending cells are networked. Jobs are programmed offline, unlike conventional robotic cells that require the operator to program a job at the press brake using a teach pendant, a process Krejchi says can “take a whole day.”
Dakotaland can bend parts ranging from the size of a business card [3 by 5 in.] to sheet metal 6 by 12 ft. While the manufacturer runs some copper and stainless, the company’s primary materials are steel and aluminum.
Tyler Bliss programs cell.
“When you consider implementing automation and the use of robotics, the general consensus is that you need to run very high-volume part runs to justify the investment,” says Krejchi. “I visited Trumpf. They understand that companies need to be versatile and not everyone is running high-volume batches. That’s the direction they’re going with their equipment.”
The TruBend cells are designed for smaller batches and can handle a variety of different part sizes during a single work shift. Dakotaland currently has 150 part numbers programmed into the cells with the capacity to add more.
AUTOMATION
“On our other cells, we might have five parts programmed in,” Krejchi says. “What really sums it up for us is that you can’t always measure efficiency gains in cycle time on a per part basis. Some shops have a misconception about robotics. They think they can process parts faster manually. But you have to step back and look at the whole picture instead of focusing on one piece of it. We looked at the gains we made in our department’s throughput and the output of the plant. We crossed a big bridge in terms of new production increases.”
Bending technology team, from left, Canaan Shupe, Jordon Clary, Mat Lind, Tyler Krejchi, Tyler Bliss, Bret Seivert, Jason McCroskey, Adam Mossefin.
Krejchi also sees other advantages with the automated bending cells. “The cells’ part detection feature means you don’t have to present blanks to the cells perfectly stacked,” he says. “The camera and sensor technologies take pictures of parts and make the necessary adjustments.”
Trumpf’s ACB laser eliminates the need to manually measure parts during forming. “In the past we had to bend a part, manually measure it and continue forming it,” he continues. “We don’t have to do that now.”
Trumpf ’s bending technology gives Dakotaland personnel a comfortable, safe work environment. In a region with low unemployment rates, the equipment supports the manufacturer’s growth goals without the need to increase its headcount. The technology is also helping Dakotaland create a work environment attractive to young people. “We know artificial intelligence is coming,” he says. “We try to get kids involved and show them that manufacturing offers promising career paths.”
According to Krejchi, the company has plans to take next steps by sourcing Trumpf technology that will allow them to transfer parts from cutting to forming without human intervention. “Our primary goal is to support our internal and external customers,” Krejchi says. “Our internal customers being our personnel and our external customers the companies that place orders. We do whatever we can to support them. That’s what led us to this juncture.”
Dakotaland Manufacturing, 605/332-4201,dakotalandmfg.com
Trumpf Inc., 860/255-6000, trumpf.com
